Airline Business articles from March 2005

Airline Business archives from March 2005

VASP grounding may help Varig.(Viacao Aerea Sao Paulo S.A. tries to convince government for its finance issues)
March 1, 2005... With VASP now grounded, Brazil's government is free to focus on the bigger challenge of how to rescue debt-laden Varig. BYLINE: David Knibb Seattle For months there has been little doubt that VASP eventually would fail, but aviation...

Cintra abandons merger.(International Air Transport Corp. drops merger of Aeromexico and Mexicana Airlines)
March 1, 2005... Four months after gaining preliminary antitrust clearance to merge Aeromexico and Mexicana, their holding company Cintra has abandoned the idea. BYLINE: David Knibb Seattle Four months after gaining preliminary antitrust clearance to...

Hubs attract low-cost trade.(airports and airlines)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: In-roadsrpad by low-fare operators are changing major US airports. In February Delta Air Lines depeaked its Atlanta, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City hubs. The transformation has achieved two goals: buttressing their defensibility as...

Second-tier spreads out.(latin america airlines wants to gain cross-border routes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: The launch of American Falcon flights from Argentina's capital Buenos Aires across the Rio Plata to Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital, at the end of February, seems fairly routine, except that it is part of a growing trend among...

WestJet drops into the redCanada's WestJet, profitable since 1996, reported a C$17.2 million ($14 million) loss for 2004 and a fourth quarter loss of C$46.3 million, largely due to a C$47.6 million write down for early retirement of 18 Boeing 737-200s.
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: WestJet drops into the redCanada's WestJet, profitable since 1996, reported a C$17.2 million ($14 million) loss for 2004 and a fourth quarter loss of C$46.3 million, largely due to a C$47.6 million write down for early retirement...

Peru's skies crowded again.(Aerolineas Argentinas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Peru is reverting to conditions common in the 1990s before AeroContinente ran almost everyone out of business - a sky full of small, under-capitalised airlines with older jets.Last July's collapse of AeroContinente, which became...

US carriers fight security fee hike.(airlines)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: The Bush administration has opened its second term with a frontal assault on the major airlines. Its proposal to steeply increase passenger security fees per flight leg has sparked an intensive airline campaign against the...

US Airways fights back.(bankruptcy reorganisation)
March 1, 2005... Buoyed by new financing, fresh cost cuts and resumed regional jet deliveries, US Airways is more confident about its prospects for survival. BYLINE: David Field washington The carrier is almost boastful about its progress, placing...

JAL launches corporate overhaul.(Japan Air Lines Company Ltd.)
March 1, 2005... Just over two years after it took over former rival Japan Air System (JAS), the Japan Airlines (JAL) Group is planning a further corporate restructuring including large cuts in top management positions. BYLINE: Nicholas Ionides Singapore...

Long-haul low-cost from Hong Kong.(planning of new airlines service)
March 1, 2005... A group of Hong Kong investors is seeking to establish a so-called long-haul, low-cost airline to operate to points in Europe and North America. BYLINE: Nicholas Ionides Singapore The planned airline is to be called Oasis Hong Kong...

Patrick bids to take over Virgin Blue.
March 1, 2005... Manoeuvring continues as Patrick Corporation, Virgin Blue's largest shareholder, bids for control of the Australian low-cost airline. BYLINE: David Knibb Seattle Patrick, which already owns 45%, made an offer to buy all of Virgin...

China's aircraft spending spree.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: China has embarked on a major widebody aircraft buying spree as its carriers seek to keep up with solid growth demands and introduce new types ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.Orders in recent weeks have covered five...

Indian carriers gain UK access.
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: India's government has again acted on its liberalisation pledges and given privately owned Air Sahara and Jet Airways much sought-after rights to serve the UK.Approval came in January, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation announcing...

China Southern flies into Taipei.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Historic charter flights between China and Taiwan got off to a smooth start at the end of January, with China Southern Airlines operating the first non-stop service across the Taiwan Strait since 1949.On 29 January, China Southern...

Qantas faces Pacific pressure.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Until now, Australia's transport minister John Anderson has balked at open skies with Singapore The dominance Qantas Airways enjoys in the Australia-US non-stop market is under attack from two directions - Singapore and Sir Richard...

ANZ-Qantas new plea fails.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Policy makers have turned back a bid by Air New Zealand (ANZ) and Qantas for New Zealand and Australia to merge their competition agencies.The airlines claim that when they applied for approval of their proposed equity merger, the...

Belin exits SAS.(Soren Belin)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: S?ren Belin, one of the architects of last year's restructuring at SAS, which saw the airline going from a centrally run operation to become four individual carriers, is to leave at the end of May.The restructure effectively...

Posada exits Avianca.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Now that Brazil's Synergy group has completed its purchase of a 75% stake in Avianca following its exit from Chapter 11, Juan Emilio Posada is leaving his post as Avianca's president to head Synergy Aerospace, a new division of the...

A former JetBlue Airways and Virgin Atlantic manager, Alex Wilcox, is leading Indian start-up Kingfisher as its prepares to launch domestic operations.(airlines news)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: A former JetBlue Airways and Virgin Atlantic manager, Alex Wilcox, is leading Indian start-up Kingfisher as its prepares to launch domestic operations.David Bryon, 38, has been appointed managing director of bmibaby, the low-cost...

Harford leads Virgin's Nigerian start-up.(Simon Harford)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Mark Pilling London The Virgin consultant who put together the business plan for the group's latest airline start-up has taken the job of running the carrier full time. Simon Harford, Virgin Nigeria's first chief executive, will be...

Qantas lines up Dixon successors.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Two senior Qantas executives have assumed new duties in a move widely seen as grooming a successor for chief executive Geoff Dixon, whose term expires in 2007.Peter Gregg, who is already a Qantas director and chief financial...

Taxing times.
March 1, 2005... No sooner does the industry appear to have righted itself than the threat of yet more taxation appears on the horizon. Global warming, development aid and national security are worthy causes, but why should airlines be the ones to pay? ...

Events diary.(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: march6-8 Network 2005Orlando, USASee Highlights9-11 International Flight Catering Association Exhibition & ConferenceCopenhagen, DenmarkContact IFCATel +44 1483 419449e-mail ifca@associationservices.co.ukwebsite...

Highlights Network 2005.(air transportation industry trade shows and conferences)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: HighlightsLatin America Aero & Defence Exhibition 200526-29 April Rio de Janeiro, BrazilAirline Business is partnering with sister company Reed Exhibitions to launch the Airline Business Club concept at the Latin America Aerospace...

Heathrow to be rejigged for A380.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: London Heathrow operator BAA has outlined its plan for the airport after the opening of Terminal 5, as it prepares to accommodate the needs of the three major alliances and the Airbus A380. "When Terminal 5 comes online in 2008, we...

Leisure carriers put their case to the EC.(industry expects aviation friendly regulation from new transport commissioner Jacques Barrot)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Colin Baker Brussels Europe's leisure carriers are optimistic that new transport commissioner Jacques Barrot will give prove more receptive to the airline industry after relations with Brussels soured in the latter days of his...

Darwin evolves Swiss regional Darwin Airlines has added a daily Lugano-Berne-London City airport service to its route network.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Darwin evolves Swiss regional Darwin Airlines has added a daily Lugano-Berne-London City airport service to its route network. The carrier started operating in mid-2004 with two Saab 2000 turboprops on several routes formerly flown...

Swiss link dismissed Lufthansa and Swiss have dismissed media reports of a potential bid by the German flag carrier for its struggling rival.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Swiss link dismissedLufthansa and Swiss have dismissed media reports of a potential bid by the German flag carrier for its struggling rival. Lufthansa has made clear in the past that it would be open to talks on a tie-up, but Swiss...

LOT joins low-cost battle.(LOT Polish Airlines's subsidiary Centralwings launches new airline service)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Colin Baker London LOT's low-cost subsidiary Centralwings launched flights in February, adding yet another player into what is becoming a crowded Polish marketplace. The new airline, whose first flights were to London Gatwick from...

EC outlines airport aid plan.(European Commission)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: colin baker london The European Commission (EC) published its working paper on the issue of state aid provided by regional airports to airlines in mid-February. This was a response to a ruling by Brussels in February 2004 that had...

European Commission legislative programme - 20051st quarterCommunication on integrated tickets within and between different modes of transport?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: European Commission legislative programme - 20051st quarterCommunication on integrated tickets within and between different modes of transport? Proposal for regulation on publication of airline quality servicesState aid to airports...

quiet.(Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana S.A.'s Fernando Conte aims higher)
March 1, 2005... As he approaches two years at the head of Iberia, Fernando Conte wants to take the Spanish carrier to the next level with plans to acquire in Latin America and to see new members join oneworld BYLINE: report by Mark Pilling in...

No-frills fortunes.(airline operators expects growth to accelerate)
March 1, 2005... US and European low-cost carriers have gained significant market share at the expense of legacy carriers over the last five years and expect growth to accelerate in the next five BYLINE: Report by Carole Shifrin in New York "We're...

The green view on aviation.
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: As the Kyoto Treaty finally comes into effect, Dr Caroline Lucas, Member of the European Parliament for the Green Party, sets out the 'green' view on aviation, calling on the industry to meet its social and environmental...

Irish gain from Open Skies.(Open Skies agreement between the European Union and United States)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: An Open Skies agreement between the European Union (EU) and the USA could boost the Irish economy by up to 10% claims a new report commissioned by the Irish Chamber of Commerce. However, the full benefits would only be realised if...

Industry slams fuel tax proposal.
March 1, 2005... Airline groups have reacted angrily to proposals from several European states to tax aviation fuel in order to raise money to aid developing nations in Africa. BYLINE: mark pilling london The idea, first floated earlier this year by...

OnAir to get airborne in 2006.(aicraft industry to provide wireless internet access)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: The first operator to offer OnAir's onboard mobile telephone and internet access will be European, according to chief executive George Cooper. European Commission regulatory approval for the company to be established was granted in...

GNEs out of the.
March 1, 2005... A new generation of web-based alternatives to the global distribution system is emerging, with US carriers showing particular interest BYLINE: Report by David Field in Washington ?? They are called GNEs - pronounced "Genies" - and if...

The last legacy.(global distribution system)
March 1, 2005... Through travel agency commission cuts and rising internet ticket sales, carriers have seen distribution costs tumble, but the legacy cost of global distribution system fees still remains to be tackled BYLINE: Report by David Field in...

Profits.(airlines)
March 1, 2005... Carriers are under pressure to earn more and spend less on their frequent flyer programmes, but that should not be at the expense of keeping customers loyal BYLINE: by Ravindra Bhagwanani at GLOBAL FLIGHT management IN OFFENBACH For...

Marketing.(global distribution system)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Distribution is changing rapidly, with carriers using their own website sales and alternative technologies to put pressure on the global distribution system (GDS) providers to cut fees. The GDSs themselves are responding to this...

The world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers are under pressure.
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: The world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers are under pressure. Changing patterns of consumer behaviour, pressure from airlines to cut costs and new technologies all mean that standing still is not an option....

Global distribution system (GDS) providers and their shareholders are jostling for position in a world where their traditional business model is under threat.
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: Report by Colin Baker in London The world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers are under pressure. Changing patterns of consumer behaviour, pressure from airlines to cut costs and new technologies all mean that...

GDS volumes and share of air bookings 2004.(Global Distribution System )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BYLINE: GDS volumes and share of air bookings 2004GDSAir bookingsMarketUS millionchangeshareshareAmadeus3816.8%33%7%Sabre3436.3%29%40%Galileo2502.0%21%20%Worldspan1900.0%16%33%TOTAL1,1645.4%100%100%NOTES: Worldspan estimated from nine...

Traffic finally flows back.(airlines)
March 1, 2005... Last year was the year when traffic finally returned, and although there will be no soft comparisons for 2005 figures, most commentators see sustained growth ahead BYLINE: The world's airline industry saw traffic rebound in 2004,...

Test.(Zoom Airlines)
March 1, 2005... Zoom Airlines may be a forerunner of things to come, but plenty of questions remain about the future of the long-haul low-cost model BYLINE: report by David Knibb in Ottawa Transatlantic Low cost Kris Dolinki, Zoom Airlines chief...

An uneasy.(Airlines)
March 1, 2005... Insurance premiums eased again last year as airline accidents hit a 20-year low, but the threat of terrorist attacks still looms BYLINE: By peter conway in london By peter conway in london Last year was another exceptionally safe year...

Cross.(air traffic management)
March 1, 2005... Europe's Single Sky air traffic management reform is beginning to take shape, but as ever, it is political rather than technological barriers that bar the way to success BYLINE: report by Colin Baker in LONDON Europe's air traffic...